After 3 days of being sick, I decided to spend 3 days in total relaxation.  I stayed in a lodge outside of Riobamba and recovered.  I watched Star Wars 1-6, RoboCop, Kickboxer 1-3, (I could NOT get through 4) and Love Actually. (twice)  The lodge was very nice, beautiful grounds, fine architecture, and a restaurant on-site serving delicious food.  Another feature, I was the only non-employee on the whole grounds.  This was NOT a small place.  The restaurant could sit about 100, there is a huge games room, a disco bar, exercise rooms, etc.  And, I was the ONLY one.  I felt like I was in The Shining, and talking to imaginary people, who I only interacted with to order food, or drinks.

After 3 days, relaxing or not, I was ready to ax-murder someone. Time to move on to the next adventure.

Now, I don’t consider myself a ferroequinologist, but when I saw ‘Nariz del Diablo’ I had to try it.  The Devi’s Nose, is a engineering marvel.  The train dances along the edge of a steep cliffside and traces switchbacks up a 10,000′ high mountain.

The train ride is about 45 minutes and you stop in a small Native village for lunch and entertainment.  Traditional Ecuadorian dancers, crafts and views of the surrounding mountains.  Just as fun, is sharing the train and the afternoon with strangers.

I sat across from two Ecuadorian men, whose son and grandchildren were visiting from USA.  We conversed the whole time in Spanish, and he complemented me by saying “Your Spanish is very good, I wish my grandkids would learn just a little.” I appreciated the second complement on my Spanish in the same day.  (The taxi driver also sang my praise as a cunning linguist)

Also on the train, a young couple from North Carolina and their parents.  They were very friendly, the mom boasting a hearty southern laugh and general appreciation for everything.  It turns out, the couple moved to Ecuador as missionaries, Jehovah Witness Missionaries.  As we said goodbye, they were heading to a meeting.  The meeting was in a Native area of Ecuador and would be in the indigenous language, NOT Spanish.  They didn’t invite me, but I felt like it was an open invitation.  In hindsight, I wish I went just for the experience.  What does a Native Jehovah Witness meeting look like?  I can picture myself, sitting in the back stroking my beard.  “Hi, I’m Tom.  My friend is actually Native.” *shoulder shrug*  But, I wanted to make my way to Cuenca and had to catch the bus.  Regrets.

Especially considering I had to wait an hour for the bus.  Being the only gringo waiting for the bus was an interesting experience.  A variety of characters approached me and started talking with me.  Two brave 10 year olds, walking with their friends and smartphones asked me for money, giggling and running away.  I told them, I would give a dollar to whoever won a footrace to the next telephone pole.  Ready set go!

An odd looking man was speaking to me in very broken English.  I asked him to speak in Spanish and then we talked for a little while.  I think he was inviting me to a Fiesta in the next town over.  He helped me hail the bus, and excitedly shook hands goodbye.  On to the next adventure!